Dwayne Wade and his transgender child launch community providing a 'safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth,' especially those of color



NBA legend Dwyane Wade launched an online community providing a "safe space" for transgender youth. Helping Wade announce the new website focusing on LGBTQ communities of color was Zaya Wade — the 16-year-old child of the former Miami Heat star, who publicly transitioned to a transgender individual from a biological male at the age of 12.

The website is called Translatable — a self-described "safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth to express themselves and is a resource hub for their parents, families, and support systems."

The famous father and child launched Translatable in a video released on Thursday.

"Translatable, aims to serve as a community safe space for youth to express themselves through a number of creative outlets," Zaya says in the video. "Here at Translatable, we focus on communities of color, center the most marginalized, and emphasize the importance of parents and family."

The NBA Hall of Famer adds, "Translatable was also a resource hub for parents, families, and support system of the LGBTQIA+ youth. For our family, we were blessed to have a community of supporters and knowledgeable experts who could swiftly arm us with the tools we needed to support Zaya and her journey."

"We recognize the lack of digestible and relatable information available to youth and families, especially communities of color," Dwayne continues. "And to this day, we are still learning."

Wade says he is "so very proud of the daughter I've had the opportunity to raise."

"She has been my biggest educator and inspiration of what it means to be true to you," the basketball star stresses. "That's why it's so important to create a collaborative space for the community to participate in the conversation and express themselves freely."

Wade concludes, "We want to emphasize that the learning never stops. You can expect to see ever-evolving content and resources to keep you up to date and Translatable."

Last week, Dwayne Wade was presented with the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award in "recognition of his advocacy for the transgender community and for his work with the Wade Family Foundation."

Wade – who reportedly has a net worth of $170 million – was also awarded $250,000 in unrestricted funding for winning the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award. Wade said he would channel the money into the Translatable endeavor.

Carolina Garcìa Jayaram – the Elevate Prize Foundation’s CEO – said, "Dwyane Wade epitomizes the ethos of our foundation. His influence extends beyond the sports arena into social justice, a realm he has championed since early in his NBA career. Wade's public support for trans rights, especially after Zaya came out, has been deeply inspirational."

Zaya Wade was originally named Zion Malachi Airamis Wade. Zaya – who turns 17 this week – had desired to transition to the opposite gender since the age of 3, according to her father.

Wade legally made a name change and officially switched genders after a six-month court battle in February 2023.

Siohvaughn Funches-Wade — Zaya's mother and ex-wife of Wade — objected to her child's transgender transition throughout the legal process. The mother wanted to delay the teen's ability to legally change genders until the minor was an adult.

However, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled in favor of allowing the teen to switch genders.

As Blaze News reported in April 2023, Wade revealed that he moved his family out of Florida over the state's LBGTQ laws.

Wade said in an interview at the time, "A lot of people don't know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions."

He noted that he loves Miami, and Florida's tax benefits are desirable, but added, "My family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there. And so that's one of the reasons why I don't live there."

Dwyane Wade has launched his online community website focused on castrating black kids. pic.twitter.com/YXMmU4K4zt
— Mythinformed (@MythinformedMKE) May 26, 2024

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Dwyane Wade's biological son legally changes name and gender despite mother's objection to transgender transition in court battle



The biological son of Dwyane Wade has legally made a name change and switched genders after a six-month court battle.

Wade's child was born a boy named Zion Malachi Airamis Wade. Now 15 years old, Zion is legally Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade after a judge granted the legal name and gender change. The judge confirmed the teen's transgender transition and allowed sex markers on documents to match the 15-year-old's preferred gender identity. The ruling was made in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday.

The court filing from November stated, "A court order affirming her identity will allow Zaya to live more comfortably and honestly in all aspects of her life — from simple introductions and food orders, to applying for a driver's license and filling out college applications."

The court document said, "This Petition is about empowering Zaya to live her truth."

However, the teen's mother has objected to her child's transgender transition throughout the legal process. The mother wanted to delay the minor's ability to legally change genders until the teen was an adult.

Wade's ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, had previously tried to prevent the teen from legally altering the birth certificate to a different name and gender.

Funches-Wade accused the NBA legend of trying to "profit" from the child's gender change in a court filing from last November.

Funches-Wade, 41, claimed that her ex-husband told her last March "that a lot of money had been already made and that additional money will be made in relation to our child’s name and gender issue." Funches-Wade alleged that Wade said that Disney could be interested in signing a deal with their child.

Wade's child had previously received modeling contracts from Tiffany and Dove.

Wade, 41, denied the accusations from his ex-wife.

"I've received a social media post about me forcing our 15-year-old to be someone she's not and to do something against her will," Wade wrote in an Instagram post. "These are serious and harmful allegations that have hurt our children."

"While none of us are surprised by Siohvaughn's attempt to fight Zaya's identity and her unwavering attempt to drag my name through the mud, I'm very disappointed that she continuously find[s] ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children," the former Miami Heat star said.

Wade claimed that Funches-Wade "tried a similar attempt over a decade ago (with equally damaging lies and causing irreparable harm to her children) and 13 lawyers later, I was awarded sole custody of our two kids as an active NBA player."

"All I ever wanted was to have my parenting time uninterrupted, as I knew that it would be a very difficult time for our kids to navigate their new normal," he added.

Wade accused his ex-wife of refusing to meet with their daughter's teachers, doctors, and therapists.

Wade said of his ex-wife, "She has not been to a school, recital, graduation, school dance, play date, practice, parent teacher conference etc and Zaya has given her every opportunity to try to get to know her. She won’t do it!"

"No one in our house would ever force Zaya or any of our children to do anything against their will, much less force an identity on them, "Wade added. This isn’t a game for my family and definitely not for Zaya. This is her life! All the while my wife and our village has been her rock in helping her pick up the pieces after heartbreak after heartbreak!"

The pair met when Wade was 9 years old, dated in high school, got married in 2002, had two children together, and got divorced in 2007.

Wade married actress Gabrielle Union in 2014. Union, 50, has been very supportive of Wade's child transitioning.

Wade has an 8-year-old son with ex-girlfriend Aja Metoyer and a 3-year-old daughter with Union.

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